Going solar is a smart choice for most homeowners. After all, it can help reduce electricity bills, protect you from rising electrical costs, increase your property’s value, and in a few years, it will pay itself off. Once that happens, you’ll virtually have free electricity as long as you can keep your solar system upkeep.
Currently, the United States government is trying to make solar energy more widespread in the country. As of 2019, solar energy accounts for 2% of the country’s energy production. And with this, the US offsets more than 100 million metric tons of carbon dioxide yearly.
And to further reap those benefits, you may consider the following tips on maximizing your solar energy system:
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Add A Few More Batteries
One of the most significant weaknesses of solar panels is that they can’t produce electricity at night or when the sun’s out. Because of that, most people and establishments with solar energy systems have batteries to ensure that the unused extra energy their panels accumulate can be stored and used later when the panels stop generating power.
So, if you want to maximize those excess power, you may want to get a few more batteries in your system. Those extra batteries can help ensure you’ll have more energy to use when the sun’s out and get the most out of every volt your panels can produce during the day.
Of course, make sure you only buy high-quality solar batteries. However, don’t just focus on the price and quality, as you should also choose all with 10 year warranties. This is especially since not all solar batteries are created equally. Some may have higher capacity but may have a shorter lifespan. On the other hand, there are also those with low capacity but will last you a long time.
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Turn Off Devices That Aren’t Being Actively Used
As much as possible, turn off all devices, tools, and appliances when you’re not actively using them. For example, if you aren’t watching the television, you might as well turn it off.
Also, if possible, refrain from turning on all energy-demanding appliances simultaneously. For example, avoid using your microwave oven or washer and dryer while another heavy appliance like the dishwasher is in use. Doing so can help prevent overloading your system, which can cause problems for your solar energy system.
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Use Your Appliances During The Day
While your solar panels need to accumulate energy and store most of it in your batteries during the day, it’s also wise to use most of your appliances that you need to run during the day. After all, the day is when your solar energy system will have the most capacity.
With that, complete your chores and use your induction cooker, washer, and other high-demand appliances while the sun’s out. Always practice increasing the energy efficiency of your appliances, too. And lastly, be sure to charge all your battery-operated devices during the day.
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Clean Your Solar Panels
Solar panels work best when sunlight is directly hitting them. For that reason, it’s essential to clean and maintain them now and then to prevent debris, leaves, and dirt from accumulating, which can affect their efficiency.
Even if you have knowledge and skills in maintaining solar panels, ensure you read your panels’ instruction manual first to know how to clean them properly. Know that some panels may require you to turn them off before you even try to touch or do anything to them. Also, these panels can get hot because of the sun. With that, wait for them to cool down first before you start cleaning and wiping them off.
On the other hand, if you’re unsure if you can do the task yourself, don’t hesitate to hire professionals to do it for you, especially if your solar panels are mounted on your roof.
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Get Your System Maintained Yearly
Maintaining your solar panels every year makes your system run efficiently and can prevent it from breaking down prematurely. Thankfully, if a contractor installed your system for you, they will often offer you a yearly maintenance plan. With them, you can rest assured that your panels, batteries, and other components will run smoothly without any problems yearly.
Conclusion
The list above features some of the ways you can maximize your solar energy system. And as you can see, they’re not difficult to do. The real challenge, however, is for you to do them constantly and not forget them.
Of course, this is not an exhaustive list. There are other ways you can maximize your solar energy system. And to get more information, you can always call and consult your solar system provider or contractor.
